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In memoriam: CBS newsman Joseph Wershba, 8/19/20-5/14/11

Edward R. Murrow's producer on the 1950s "Red Scare" exposes and an original producer of "60 Minutes"

2011Sep 23

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Joseph Wershba, a pioneering CBS News reporter and producer, was remembered by family, friends and CBS News colleagues at a memorial service at the Paley Center for Media on Sept. 16, 2011.

Hailed as one of the last links to the rich journalistic legacy of CBS News and Edward R. Murrow, Wershba was called a "Founding father of CBS News" by Jeff Fager, chairman of CBS News and executive producer of"60 Minutes."

Of Weshba's contribution to the first 20 years of"60 Minutes," Fager said, "In all of my time associated with"60 Minutes," his name has been brought up more often than any other single producer."

In addition to his children, Randi Kornreich and Don Wershba, Phil Scheffler and Morley

Safer spoke about their "60 Minutes" colleague, as did the legendary New York journalist, Pete Hamill, with whom Wershba worked at the New York Post.

Actor George Clooney, who consulted with Wershba and his wife Shirley for his acclaimed film about Murrow's clash with Sen. Joseph McCarthy, "Good Night, and Good Luck," could not attend, but sent remarks read by Fager, "He had the responsibility of holding our leaders to the standard that made this country great. At a time when we throw the word "brave" around too easily, Joe Wershba was truly brave."